EP2818614B1 - Door handle assembly for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention is directed to a door handle assembly for a motor vehicle with a frame-like handle support, a manually operable handle, which is movably mounted on the handle support for opening a door or flap of the motor vehicle by a user, a pivotally mounted on the handle support coupling device by the movement the handle is transferable to a vehicle-mounted locking arrangement, and a blocking device which acts as a mass barrier and is movably held on the handle carrier with a blocking body, the blocking body acting upon a force acting in a first direction as a result of a motor vehicle accident from a rest position, in which an actuation of the handle is possible, in a blocking direction in which an actuation of the closing arrangement is blocked by the handle and / or the coupling device, is designed to be moving, and wherein the blocking body upon application of an e In the first direction opposite, second direction acting acceleration force due to a motor vehicle accident from the rest position is formed in the one blocking direction moving.

A door handle assembly of the type described is from the WO 2012/065938 known.

Such door handle arrangements with a locking device serving as a mass barrier are intended to prevent the acceleration forces occurring in the event of an accident from leading to actuation of the handle or door handle and unintentional opening of the door of the motor vehicle, which entails considerable risks for an occupant of the vehicle. In conventional door handle assemblies for motor vehicles, namely, the user-operable gripping members are mechanically coupled to a vehicle-side locking assembly (the actual door lock). The movement of the door handle or the Handle is transmitted by the coupling device to the locking assembly and released the door to the opening. In the case of an accident, the acceleration forces under adverse conditions such as operation of the handle member by a user, since the handle can be accelerated due to the inertia in the opening direction. In a handle or a door handle without a corresponding locking device, the movement of the handle component relative to the vehicle would lead to a transmission through the mechanical coupling device to the locking arrangement in the vehicle and to a release of the door. Example scenarios for such situations is regularly a side impact on an obstacle or another vehicle. Such a mass-locking device, also referred to as a crash barrier, is known for door handle assemblies of the prior art.

For example, this describes DE 199 29 022 C2 a corresponding mass barrier in the form of a pivotable locking member which is to exclude a handle operation in the event of a crash. In the event of an accident while forces are exerted on the locking member and an unwanted movement of the handle, also caused by the forces acting, is blocked. A door handle assembly is further, for example, from DE 10 2009 053 553 A1 known. In this door handle assembly acts by a crash paring an additional force on the handle or the door handle, which should be reliably avoided that it comes to an unwanted movement of the handle.

A door handle assembly with a locking device designed in the form of a crash barrier is further, for example, from DE 10 2008 000 098 A1 known.

Such known crash barriers can be designed as a pendulum mass, so that displaced due to the applied force, the crash barrier, for example, in the path of movement of the handle or the coupling device and thereby blocks the handle. In addition, crash barriers are known which engage in a blocking position and after their activation and latching only by a targeted intervention in the Door handle unit can be disabled again, so that the door handle can be used again in normal operation.

In known from the prior art door handle assemblies with a mass lock or a locking device that does not lock when activated, but moves back to its rest position, there is a risk that, for example, in a side impact to alternating acceleration forces can come to a kind of flutter the door handle assembly, so swinging back and forth lead. This flapping or swinging is responsible for the fact that the locking device can be arranged during its pendulum operation in a position in which the handle and / or the coupling device are not blocked in the event of a crash or motor vehicle accident. This is because the known locking devices are active only in a relatively small Sperrweg- or Stellwegbereich, which blocks an actuation of the coupling lever designed as a lever or the handle, so that either strong and pronounced vibrations or long-lasting vibrations due to The effect of acceleration forces there is a risk that, in the case of a reciprocating or oscillating locking device, the travel range is not designed to be sufficiently long in order to reliably prevent blocking of the handle or of the reversing lever. Therefore, in the event of a crash during the oscillation process, the locking device, despite its activation, can assume a position in which it does not block the handle or the lever. A further disadvantage is that the known door handle assemblies are designed with crash barrier only for a directed into the vehicle acceleration force. An acceleration force directed in the opposite direction is not taken into account but may also influence an undesired operation of the handle.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a solution that provides a door handle assembly in a structurally simple manner and cost, in which the locking device even with alternating acceleration forces as a result of a crash reliably and safely blocked the handle or the coupling device.

In a door handle assembly of the type described input, the object is achieved in that the locking device is a first lever-shaped mass element which is movable due to the inertia of its mass under the action of acting in the first direction of acceleration force from a basic position in a deflection direction, and a second lever-shaped mass element, which is due to the inertia of its mass under the action of an acting in the second direction of acceleration force from a basic position in the same direction of deflection as the first mass member is movable, and that the lever-shaped mass elements cooperate with the locking body. Advantageous and expedient refinements and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention provides a door handle assembly of a motor vehicle is available, which is characterized by a functional design and has a simple and inexpensive construction. It is essential to the invention that the locking device from the rest position is designed to be movable only in a single blocking direction when an acceleration force in a first direction or in a direction opposite to the first direction direction acts on the locking device and its locking body. Thus, the locking body always moves in the same direction in the event of a crash or in a motor vehicle accident, regardless of the direction in which the acceleration force acts. This prevents swinging back and overshooting beyond the rest position. This property of the locking device according to the invention with its locking body is advantageous, for example, in the event of a motor vehicle accident or crash, in which pronounced oscillation processes predominate due to the acting acceleration forces. Due to the locking device according to the invention, in which the locking body always moves in the event of a crash in the same one blocking direction, even in the case of a swinging back or commuting the Locking device effectively blocks the handle and / or the coupling device during a crash, because the locking body of the locking device moves when reversing not in the direction of the rest position, but in the one blocking direction, whereby the locking device at any time during the action of acceleration forces due to a motor vehicle accident is arranged in the rest position.

It is to be observed an increasing life span of the motor vehicles, whereby the life span often exceeds an age of more than 10 years. The known locking devices are normally not operated for a long time, because the operation is only the exceptional case that occurs in a motor vehicle accident. In addition to the small operation is to be considered that the locking device may be part of a door handle assembly of an outside handle, the weather and corrosion is exposed. In the known door handle assemblies on the type of exterior door handle can not be guaranteed that even after years, the desired and proper functionality of the (previously unactuated) locking device is given and enjoy the vehicle occupant optimal protection in a vehicle accident. It is therefore a further object of the present invention to ensure the operability of the door handle assembly and in particular the locking device. This is achieved in the context of the invention in that a pivoting movement of the coupling device as a result of a manual actuation of the handle causes a movement of the locking body in a blocking direction without blocking the handle and / or the coupling device. In other words, the coupling device is designed such that its pivoting movement as a result of manual actuation of the handle causes a movement of the locking body in the one blocking direction without blocking the handle and / or the coupling device. A normal and thus manual operation of the handle and the action of an acceleration force lead to a rotational movement of the locking body. In normal operation is while the handle first manually operated by a user, wherein the manual operation of the handle ensures that the locking body of the locking device rotates. At each manual actuation of the handle and the locking body is moved at the same time, which ensures that the rotatably mounted locking body is not clamped over time due to weather or even festkorroded. It is ensured that during normal operation of the handle, the locking body does not set the handle ineffective. The constant movement of the locking body ensures that the locking device maintains its function even with a long service life. Upon application of an acceleration force as a result of a motor vehicle accident occurs simultaneously a rotational movement of the locking body and the handle and the motion coupled coupling device. Due to different inertial masses moves when exposed to the acceleration force of the locking body faster than the handle or the coupling device, whereby the locking body has moved earlier in time compared to the handle in a blocking direction, so that the blocking body blocks the deflection of the coupling device and / or the handle ,

So that the locking device can be activated independently of whether the acting acceleration force is directed in the direction of the vehicle interior or in the opposite direction out of the vehicle interior, the invention provides that the locking device, a first mass element, which due to the inertia of its mass under the action of the First inertial force acting from a basic position in a deflection direction is movable, and a second mass element, which is movable due to the inertia of its mass under the action of an acting in the second direction of acceleration force from a basic position in the same direction of deflection as the first mass element , In this case, the two mass elements can be designed to be lever-shaped, wherein the deflection direction can be a deflection direction of rotation.

In a further embodiment of the door handle assembly according to the invention it is provided that the locking body is disc-shaped, wherein on each of the two side surfaces of the locking body at least one projection is formed and the projections are arranged diametrically, and wherein a respective projection is associated with a corresponding mass element, which upon movement pushing in the direction of deflection against the associated projection and this is formed and arranged urgently together with the locking body in the one blocking direction. Due to the two mass elements, the blocking body moves independently of the direction from which the Acceleration force always acts in the same direction of deflection, whereby even when fluttering, ie when swinging back and forth, the door handle assembly, the locking body does not swing back in the direction of its rest position and is not deflected beyond the rest position, so that a secure locking of the handle is ensured via the coupling device. The deflection movement of the two mass elements is a rotary movement, so that the deflection direction is a direction of rotation.

In order to ensure that the respective mass element moves only in the one desired deflection direction, the invention provides that the first mass element and the second mass element in the respective basic position on a respective movement boundary surface, which movement of the first and second mass element against the Deflection direction blocked, abut. The respective boundary surface may for example be part of the handle carrier, wherein an alternative embodiment is conceivable.

In order to keep the installation space of the locking device as low as possible, it is advantageous if a respective first longitudinal end of the lever-shaped mass elements is rotatably mounted on a rotation axis, wherein the locking body by means of the rotation axis rotatably mounted on the handle support and between the first mass element and the second mass element is mounted on the axis of rotation. In this case, the blocking body is movable and rotatable relative to the mass elements, although the blocking body and the two mass elements are mounted on the same axis of rotation.

A structurally particularly favorable possibility of realizing a locking device which undergoes a movement upon manual actuation of the handle and blocks a deflection of the handle when an acceleration force is applied as a result of a vehicle accident is given in an embodiment of the invention in that the coupling device is provided with a movement approach, when pivoting the coupling device as a result of manual operation of the handle in a recess which may be slit-shaped can, immersed in the locking body, wherein the movement approach presses on further, deflecting operation of the handle against the wall of the recess and thereby urges the locking body in a blocking direction. The motion kinematics of the coupling device coupled to the handle is used to directly engage the locking device and to move it out of the rest position in the direction of the blocking direction. During normal operation of the handle so the locking device is moved to a small extent.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides that the slot-shaped recess formed in the disk-shaped locking body is designed as a radially extending recess into which the movement attachment of the coupling device can pivot. By this configuration, the space to be provided for the locking device can be kept low in particular when the coupling device is mounted pivotably about a pivot axis on the handle carrier, wherein the axis of rotation of the locking body is aligned substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the coupling device.

In an embodiment of the invention it is provided that the blocking body has at least one radially extending cut, preferably two diametrically arranged notches. In particular, with regard to a universal use of the door handle assembly for both sides of the vehicle, the two radially extending notches, which are arranged diametrically, are advantageous. For this reason, the locking device can only be rotated by 180 ° on the other side of the vehicle used, because for the activation and deflection of the locking body, the direction of action of the acceleration forces in the event of a motor vehicle accident of minor role, because the locking body moves only in the one blocking direction and swing the two mass elements in the same direction of deflection.

Thus, the handle is not blocked further after the action of acceleration forces, it is in an embodiment of the invention finally advantageous if a mechanical restoring element is provided which a the locking body in the Rest position applies urgent force. Unlike known locking devices, which engage in the event of a crash due to the action of acceleration forces and manually must be released again so that the handle is actuated, the handle of the door handle assembly according to the invention thus after the action of acceleration forces reusable and operable, since the locking device again in the rest position.

It is understood that the features to be explained above and below can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined only by the claims.

• Figur 1 eine Seitenansicht eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit mehreren erfindungsgemäßen Türgriffanordnungen,
• Figur 2 eine perspektivische Frontansicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Türgriffanordnung,
• Figur 3 die Türgriffanordnung aus Figur 2 in perspektivischer Rückansicht,
• Figur 4 die Türgriffanordnung aus den Figuren 2 und 3 in einer perspektivischen Einzelteildarstellung,
• Figur 5 eine Kopplungsvorrichtung der Türgriffanordnung in perspektivischer Ansicht,
• Figur 6 eine Sperrvorrichtung der Türgriffanordnung in perspektivischer Ansicht,
• Figur 7 die Türgriffanordnung in perspektivischer Ansicht bei unbetätigter Handhabe,
• Figur 8 in Seitenansicht die Positionen der Kopplungsvorrichtung und der Sperrvorrichtung bei unbetätigter Handhabe,
• Figur 9 die Türgriffanordnung in perspektivischer Ansicht bei halb betätigter Handhabe,
• Figur 10 in Seitenansicht die Positionen der Kopplungsvorrichtung und der Sperrvorrichtung bei halb betätigter Handhabe,
• Figur 11 die Türgriffanordnung in perspektivischer Ansicht bei voll betätigter Handhabe,
• Figur 12 in Seitenansicht die Positionen der Kopplungsvorrichtung und der Sperrvorrichtung bei voll betätigter Handhabe,
• Figur 13 die Türgriffanordnung in perspektivischer Ansicht bei aktivierter Sperrvorrichtung infolge einer in den Fahrzeuginnenraum wirkenden Beschleunigungskraft,
• Figur 14 in Seitenansicht die Positionen der Kopplungsvorrichtung und der Sperrvorrichtung bei aktivierter Sperrvorrichtung infolge einer in den Fahrzeuginnenraum wirkenden Beschleunigungskraft,
• Figur 15 die Türgriffanordnung in perspektivischer Ansicht bei aktivierter Sperrvorrichtung infolge einer aus dem Fahrzeuginnenraum heraus gerichteten Beschleunigungskraft,
• Figur 16 in Seitenansicht die Positionen der Kopplungsvorrichtung und der Sperrvorrichtung bei aktivierter Sperrvorrichtung infolge einer aus dem Fahrzeuginnenraum heraus gerichteten Beschleunigungskraft,
• Figur 17 die Türgriffanordnung in perspektivischer Ansicht mit aktivierter Sperrvorrichtung und überdrehtem Sperrkörper und
• Figur 18 in Seitenansicht die Positionen der Kopplungsvorrichtung und der Sperrvorrichtung bei aktivierter Sperrvorrichtung und überdrehtem Sperrkörper.

Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which by way of example a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. In the drawing shows:

• FIG. 1 a side view of a motor vehicle with a plurality of door handle assemblies according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 a perspective front view of a door handle assembly according to the invention,
• FIG. 3 the door handle assembly off FIG. 2 in perspective rear view,
• FIG. 4 the door handle assembly from the FIGS. 2 and 3 in a perspective detail view,
• FIG. 5 a coupling device of the door handle assembly in perspective view,
• FIG. 6 a locking device of the door handle assembly in perspective view,
• FIG. 7 the door handle assembly in perspective view with unconfirmed handle,
• FIG. 8 in side view, the positions of the coupling device and the locking device with unactuated handle,
• FIG. 9 the door handle assembly in perspective view at half-operated handle,
• FIG. 10 in side view, the positions of the coupling device and the locking device at half-operated handle,
• FIG. 11 the door handle assembly in perspective view with fully operated handle,
• FIG. 12 in side view, the positions of the coupling device and the locking device with fully actuated handle,
• FIG. 13 the door handle assembly in perspective view with activated locking device as a result of acting in the vehicle interior acceleration force,
• FIG. 14 in side view, the positions of the coupling device and the locking device with the locking device activated as a result of acting in the vehicle interior acceleration force,
• FIG. 15 the door handle assembly in perspective view with activated locking device as a result of a directed out of the vehicle interior acceleration force,
• FIG. 16 in side view, the positions of the coupling device and the locking device with the locking device activated as a result of a directed out of the vehicle interior acceleration force,
• FIG. 17 the door handle assembly in a perspective view with activated locking device and twisted locking body and
• FIG. 18 in side view, the positions of the coupling device and the locking device with activated locking device and over-turned locking body.

In FIG. 1 is a vehicle or motor vehicle 1 in the form of a car exemplified, which in the example has four doors 2, which can be opened via a door handle assembly 3 and in particular by means of a door handle or a handle 4. The doors 2 are tightly closed via respective closing arrangements 5 and can be opened from the outside only via a respective movement of the handle 4. This movement on the handle 4 can from a drawing and / or There is a folding movement, wherein the corresponding movement of the handle 4 can be mechanically transmitted to the corresponding closing arrangement 5 at least via a coupling device. By the movement of the handle 4, the corresponding locking assembly 5 and thus the associated door 2 can then open.

In the FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is in each case a perspective view of the door handle assembly 3 shown in more detail, wherein FIG. 2 a front view, FIG. 3 a rear view and FIG. 4 show a single part representation. The door handle assembly 3 has a frame-like handle support 6, which is known to serve the attachment of the handle 4 and is secured by means not shown screw on the inside of the door panel. It can be seen from the figures that the handle 4 is arranged on the outside of the door. In this case, the grip carrier 6 for reasons of material saving is formed predominantly of a frame structure which has various receiving and storage spaces, in addition to the handle 4, which is movable on the handle support 6 for opening a corresponding door 2 of the motor vehicle 1 by a user and / / or is pivotally mounted on the handle support 6, further to be able to receive a mechanical coupling device 7 and a locking device 8.

By the mechanical coupling device 7, a movement of the handle 4 is transferable to the corresponding vehicle-side locking assembly 5, thereby opening the corresponding door 2. The locking device 8 serving as a mass barrier has a blocking body 9 (see FIG FIG. 6 ), which upon application of an acceleration force, moves its position from a rest position (see, for example, FIG FIG. 7 ) into a blocking position (see, for example Figures 13 and 15 ) by moving it in a blocking direction. In the rest position of the locking body 9, an actuation of the handle 4 is possible, whereas in the blocking position of the locking body 9 of the locking device 8 movably held on the handle support 6 actuation of the locking assembly 5 by the handle 4 and / or movement of the coupling device 7 by an operation the handle 4 blocked. Especially Immediately sets the blocking when the blocking body 9 is moved from the rest position in the blocking direction.

The coupling device 7 is movably coupled to the handle 4 via a cantilevered deflection lever 10, so that a movement of the handle 4 is transmitted to the coupling device 7, whereby the coupling device 7 is pivoted about an axis not shown in the figures with respect to the handle support 6 , The coupling device 7 is pivotally mounted in a receiving space of the handle support 6, wherein the movement initiated by the handle 4 on the coupling device 7 of this on a not shown transmission element (for example, a Bowden cable) is transmitted to the closing assembly 5. As further example, the Figures 5 or 7 can be seen, the coupling device 7 further comprises a movement approach 11. The movement approach 11 pivots together with the coupling device 7 about the pivot axis. The free end of the movement approach 11 moves during pivoting of the coupling device 7 either as a result of manual operation of the handle 4 or as a result of a vehicle accident in the direction of the locking device 8 and interacts with this.

In FIG. 6 the locking device 8 is shown in detail. The locking device 8 has the locking body 9, which is disc-shaped and in which a slot-shaped recess 12 is formed. The slot-shaped recess 12 is formed radially outwardly extending in the disc-shaped locking body 9 as a radial incision 13, so that the movement approach 11 of the coupling device 7 can pivot into the recess 13 when the locking body 9 in the rest position (see, for example FIG. 8 ) is located. As can be seen from the figures, the locking body 9 has two radially extending notches 13, which are arranged diametrically and which allows use of the locking device 8 on both sides of the vehicle. The locking body 9 of the locking device 8 is rotatably mounted at its center by means of a rotation axis 14 on the handle support 6, so that a movement of the locking body 9 from the Rest position in a blocking direction is a rotary motion. The blocking device 8 further has a first mass element 15 and a second mass element 16 which are each mounted with their first longitudinal end 15a, 16a rotatably mounted on the axis of rotation 14 and are rotatable relative to the locking body 9, such as in FIG FIG. 6 is shown. The lever-shaped mass elements 15 and 16 each have a center of gravity, which is arranged offset to the axis of rotation 14, so that the mass elements 15 and 16 under the action of an acceleration force (for example due to a side impact in the direction of the vehicle interior) from its basic position, the FIG. 8 is shown, can move out in a deflection direction, which will be discussed in more detail below. The lever-shaped mass elements 15 and 16 cooperate with the locking body 9. For this purpose, the disk-shaped blocking body 9 has a projection 18a and 18b on each of its two lateral surfaces 17a and 17b. The projections 18a and 18b are arranged diametrically on the locking body 9, but are located on different side surfaces 17a, 17b of the locking body 9. The locking body 9 is disposed between the two mass elements 15 and 16 on the axis of rotation 14, wherein the mass elements 15, 16 relative to the locking body 9 are rotatable about the rotation axis 14 around. Thus, the protrusion 18a formed on the side surface 17a is assigned the first mass member 15, whereas the protrusion 18b formed on the side surface 17b is assigned the second mass member 16. If now one of the two mass elements 15 and 16 is deflected due to its inertia, it presses against its associated projection 18 a and 18 b, which is offset from the axis of rotation 14 on the corresponding side surface 17 a, 17 b formed, and thus rotates the locking body 9 from his Rest position about the axis of rotation 14. In other words, the two mass elements 15 and 16 are rotatable about the rotational axis 14 opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 20. The locking body 9 is urged by a mechanical restoring element in the rest position, wherein the restoring element may be a spring element, a the Locking body 9 in the rest position urging force applies, in the direction of arrow 20 in FIG. 8 acts. In the rest position of the locking body (see FIG. 8 ) are the lever-shaped mass elements 15 and 16 at their associated projections 18a and 18b and on movement limiting surfaces 19a and 19b. The movement limiting surfaces 19a and 19b are indicated only by way of example in the figures and may be formed as part of the handle support 6 or as separate components, wherein the motion limiting surfaces 19a and 19b, the first and second mass element 15 and 16 only in a predetermined deflection about the rotation axis 14th is rotatable.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS FIGS. 7 to 18 the operation of the door handle assembly 3 according to the invention described, wherein in the FIGS. 8 . 10 . 12 . 14 . 16 and 18 for reasons of clarity, only the coupling device 7 and the locking device 9 and their various positions are shown, on the basis of which explains the functionality.

In the FIGS. 7 and 8 is the door handle assembly 3 and the coupling device 7 and the locking device 8 shown in the unactuated handle 4. When unconfirmed handle 4 is the locking body 9 of the locking device 8 in a rest position, in which the locking body 9 is urged by the return element. In the rest position of the blocking body 9, the protrusions 18a and 18b formed on the side surfaces 17a and 17b urge the associated mass elements 15 and 16 into their respective basic position in which they bear against the respective movement limiting surfaces 19a and 19b, so that movement of the first and second mass elements 15 and 16 opposite to the arrow 20 in FIG FIG. 8 indicated direction, which corresponds to the deflection direction of the locking body 9 is blocked.

The FIGS. 9 and 10 The locking member 9 of the locking device is here still in the rest position, whereas at half-operated handle 4, the movement coupled with this coupling device 7 moves. there is the coupling device 7 in the direction of arrow 21 in FIG. 10 pivots, whereby the movement approach 11 moves in the direction of the slot-shaped recess 12 and the radial recess 13. In the case of a half-operated handle 4, the coupling device 7 is not yet deflected far enough to transmit the movement of the handle 4 to the closing arrangement 5, so that the door 2 associated with the closing arrangement 5 is not (yet) opened.

An opening of the door 2 takes place only when fully operated handle 4. Die FIGS. 11 and 12 Even with fully actuated handle 4, the two mass elements 15 and 16 are in their respective home position, in which they rest against the associated movement limiting surfaces 19a and 19b. However, the locking body 9 is moved from its rest position in the blocking direction 22, wherein the movement of the locking body 9 is a rotational movement counterclockwise about the rotation axis 14. The rotational movement of the locking body 9 is effected by the movement approach 11, which immersed in fully activated handle 4 in the slot-shaped recess 12 of the locking body 9 and there presses against the wall 23 of the slot-shaped recess 12, whereby the locking body in the blocking direction 22 is rotated about the axis of rotation 14 becomes. It should be noted that a pivoting movement of the coupling device 7 as a result of a manual operation of the handle 4 causes a movement of the locking body 9 in the blocking direction 22 without blocking the handle 4 and the coupling device 7. The movement of the locking body 9, without thereby a deflection of the handle 4 and / or the coupling device 7 is blocked, keeps the movement of the locking device 8 upright. In other words, the movement approach 11 is moved upon pivoting of the coupling device 7 due to the manual operation of the handle 4 in the recess 12 in the locking body 9 and presses in further, deflecting operation of the handle 4 against the wall 23 of the slot-shaped recess 12, whereby the Locking body 9 in the blocking direction 22nd is urged. After actuation of the handle 4, the locking body 9 returns by means of the return element in its rest position (see FIG. 8 ) back.

The FIGS. 13 and 14 show the door handle assembly 3 and the coupling device 7 and the locking device 8 when activated locking device as a result of acting in the vehicle interior acceleration force, which accordingly in a first direction 24 (indicated by the arrow in FIG FIG. 14 ) acts. Upon application of the acceleration force to the door handle assembly 3 due to a motor vehicle accident, the locking body 9 is moved from its rest position in which actuation of the handle 4 is possible in the blocking direction 22 to actuate the locking assembly 5 either by the handle 4 or by the coupling device 7 to block. The movement of the blocking body 9 by rotation in the blocking direction 22 takes place with the aid of the first mass element 15, which is moved out of the basic position into a deflection direction 25 due to the inertia of its mass under the action of the acceleration force acting in the first direction 24, the deflection direction 25 is a clockwise direction of rotation about the axis of rotation 14. As a result of the rotational movement, the first mass element 15 presses against the projection 18a formed on the blocking body 9 so that the blocking body 9 is ultimately rotated about the axis of rotation 14, whereby the slot-shaped recess 12 then comes out of the path of movement of the movement approach 11. Consequently, a full actuation of the handle 4 and deflection of the coupling device 7 is blocked, because the movement approach 11 can no longer dip into the slot-shaped recess 12, but can only to the peripheral edge of the locking body 9, a blocking surface 27 (see FIG. 6 ), be deflected on this resting. The deflection direction 25 of the first mass element 15 and the blocking direction 22 of the blocking body 9 point in the same direction, which points in the counterclockwise direction. The second mass element 16 is due to the inertia of its mass at the movement limiting surface 19b at. The second mass element 16 can not be deflected so that it can not rotate about the axis of rotation 14.

In the FIGS. 15 and 16 the door handle assembly 3 and the coupling device 7 and the locking device 8 is shown in a situation of a motor vehicle accident through which acts an acceleration force directed out of the vehicle interior and the locking device 8 is activated. The acceleration force acts in a second direction 26, the first direction 24 (see FIG. 14 ) is opposite. Due to the direction of action in the second direction 26, the first mass element 15 is pressed against the associated movement limiting surface 19 a due to the inertia of its mass and therefore remains in its basic position. In contrast, the second mass member 16 is moved in the deflection direction 25, which is the same direction as in the in the FIG. 14 described situation in which the acceleration force was directed in the first direction 24. The second mass element 16 presses against the projection 18b as it rotates about the axis of rotation 14, as a result of which the blocking element 9 is rotated about the axis of rotation 14 in the blocking direction 22. Thus, the blocking direction 22 is always the same in a vehicle accident, regardless of whether the acceleration force acts in the first or the second direction. Also, the deflection direction 25 is as in the situation in FIG. 14 identical to the blocking direction 22 and thus directed counterclockwise. The second lever-shaped mass element 16 is thus movable from the basic position into the same deflection direction 25 as the first mass element 15 when an acceleration force acting in the second direction 26 is exerted. Once no acceleration force acts, the locking body 9 is again pushed back by means of the return element in the rest position, whereby the projection 18b presses against the second mass member 16 and the mass element 16 thereby returns to the basic position.

In the FIGS. 17 and 18 the locking body 9 is shown in its over-rotation in the event of a crash. More specifically, these figures show a situation in which the locking device 8 activated and the locking body 9 is arranged rotated so that none of the two mass elements 15, 16 rests on one of the projections 18a, 18b. As with the in the FIGS. 13 and 14 shown states also works in the in the FIGS. 17 and 18 shown state of over-rotation in the vehicle interior, ie in a first direction 24 directed acceleration force due to a vehicle accident. In the in the FIGS. 17 and 18 In the case shown, the acceleration force is now so strong that the first mass element 15 accelerates the projection 18a such that the mass element 15 reaches its end position in front of the projection 18a and the blocking body 9 rotates even further, which in the illustrated case represents an over-rotated end position. in which the first mass element 15 thus does not abut against the projection 18a.

In summary, with the present invention, a door handle assembly 3 is provided with a non-latching locking device 8, which is characterized by a secure activation and the handle 4 or the coupling device 7 safely blocked even in vibration or flutter due to the action of acceleration forces. According to the invention the locking device 8 can be used on both sides of the vehicle and thus acts on both sides. The locking device 8 is thus used for both sides of the vehicle. Activation of the locking element 8 according to the invention is always carried out by a movement of the locking body 9 in the same direction, regardless of the direction in which the acceleration force acts. This is achieved by the specially formed blocking element 8, which comprises the blocking body 9, which may be formed, for example, butterfly-shaped, and the two mass elements 15, 16. The blocking body 9 and the mass elements 15, 16 are mounted on the common axis of rotation 14, wherein the blocking body 9 is arranged between the two mass elements 15, 16. The mass elements 15, 16 are rotatable relative to each other and relative to the locking body 9. From their basic position, the two mass elements 15, 16 can move in one direction due to their inertia, that of the direction of acceleration is opposite. The movement limiting surfaces 19a, 19b limit the movement of the two mass elements 15, 16 and allow movement in only one direction. This released movement of the mass elements 15, 16 is a rotational movement about the axis of rotation 14, so that the mass elements 15, 16 - regardless of the direction of the acting acceleration force - always turn in the one blocking direction 22. By the movement of one of the two mass elements 15, 16 as a result of an acceleration force, the corresponding mass element 15, 16 presses against the associated projection 18a, 18b, whereby the blocking body 9 is rotated about the axis of rotation 14 in the blocking direction.

According to the embodiment shown, the axis of rotation 14 of the locking device 8 is aligned substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the coupling device 7. In order to ensure the mobility of the locking device 8 and thus to avoid setting of the locking device 8, the movement approach 11 of the coupling device 7 moves into the recess 12 of the locking body 9 and rotates the locking body 9 during normal manual operation of the handle 4, whereby the movement of the Locking device 8 is ensured. In the case of the double-acting blocking device 8 designed as a mass barrier, the two mass elements 15, 16 may be made of die-cast zinc, for example, whereas the blocking body 9 may be formed of a plastic (for example POM) which has high strength, hardness and rigidity.

Claims (9)

1. A door handle assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:

   - a frame-like handle support (6),

   - a manually actuatable handle (4) which is movably mounted on the handle support (6) for opening a door (2) or hatch of the motor vehicle (1) by a user,

   - a pivotably mounted coupling device (7), a movement of the handle (4) being able to be transmitted thereby to a locking arrangement (5) on the vehicle side, and

   - a locking device (8) having a locking body (9), said locking device serving as a mass lock and being movably held on the handle support (6),

   wherein with the action of an acceleration force acting in a first direction (24), as a result of a motor vehicle accident, the locking body (9) is designed to move from a resting position in which an actuation of the handle (4) is possible into a blocking direction (22) in which an actuation of the locking arrangement (5) by the handle (4) and/or the coupling device (7) is blocked, and
   wherein with the action of an acceleration force acting in a second direction (26) opposing the first direction (24), as a result of a motor vehicle accident, the locking body (9) is designed to move from the resting position into the one blocking direction (22),
   characterised
   in that the locking device (8) comprises a first lever-arm-shaped mass element (15) which is movable from a basic position in a deflection direction (25), due to the inertia of its mass with the action of an acceleration force acting in the first direction (24), and a second lever-arm-shaped mass element (16) which is movable from a basic position in the same deflection direction (25) as the first mass element (15), due to the inertia of its mass with the action of an acceleration force acting in the second direction (26), and in that the lever-arm-shaped mass elements (15, 16) cooperate with the locking body (9).
2. The door handle assembly according to Claim 1, characterised in that, as a result of a manual actuation of the handle (4), a pivoting movement of the coupling device (7) effects a movement of the locking body (9) in the one blocking direction (22) without blocking the handle (4) and/or the coupling device (7).
3. The door handle assembly according to Claim 1, characterised in that the locking body (9) is configured to be disc-shaped, wherein at least one projection (18a, 18b) is configured on each of the two side surfaces (17a, 17b) of the locking body (9) and the projections (18a, 18b) are arranged diametrically, and wherein a corresponding mass element (15, 16) is assigned to one respective projection (18a, 18b), with a movement in the deflection direction (25) said mass element being configured and arranged to press against the assigned projection (18a, 18b) and to push this projection together with the locking body (9) in the one blocking direction (22).
4. The door handle assembly according to Claim 1 or 3, characterised in that the first mass element (15) and the second mass element (16) in the respective basic position bear against one respective movement limitation surface (19a, 19b) which blocks a movement of the first and second mass elements (15, 16) counter to the deflection direction (22).
5. The door handle assembly according to Claim 54, characterised in that one respective first longitudinal end (15a, 16a) of the mass elements (15, 16), which are configured to be lever-arm-shaped, is rotatably mounted on a rotational axis (14), wherein the locking body (9) is rotatably mounted by means of the rotational axis (14) on the handle support (6) and on the rotational axis (14) between the first mass element (15) and the second mass element (16).
6. The door handle assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling device (7) is provided with a motion projection (11) which penetrates a slot-shaped recess (12) of the locking body (9) when the coupling device (7) is pivoted as a result of a manual actuation of the handle (4), wherein with a further deflecting actuation of the handle (4), the motion projection (11) presses against the wall (23) of the slot-shaped recess (12) and at the same time pushes the locking body (9) in the one blocking direction (22).
7. The door handle assembly according to Claim 6, characterised in that the slot-shaped recess (12) which is configured in the disc-shaped locking body (9) is configured as a radially extending cutout (13), the motion projection (11) of the coupling device (7) being able to pivot therein.
8. The door handle assembly according to Claim 7, characterised in that the locking body (9) comprises at least one radially extending cutout (13), preferably two diametrically arranged cutouts (13).
9. The door handle assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a mechanical restoring element is provided, said mechanical restoring element applying a force which pushes the locking body (9) into the resting position.

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